Overhead carrier



March 3, 1931. E. T. BENNINGTON OVERHEAD CARRIER Filed July 6, 1925 CWO".

LINE

, I? MWw /Z HOIST Mo-roR FIELD C l -S .LlMl swn'cH LOWER Patented Mar. 3, 1931 1 UNITED STATES.

EARL T. IBENNINGTON, F CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND CRANE AND ENGINEERING.COMPANY, OFWICKLIFFE, OHIO, A CORPORATION' OF 1 7' OHIO Application filed :rui 6,

This invention relates to overhead carriers of the type in which there is a hoist. on the carrier and a loaded carrier member flexibly suspended from the hoist and provided with a handle so disposed that an operator walk- I ing along the ground may push against the load carrying member and. through the flex ible suspension means, move the entire apparatus along the track, It is an object of the present invention to provide means, on the handle of a flexibly flexibly suspended from the hoist of an over head carrier and having a handle by which, the entire apparatus may be pushed along '2 the trackway and by means of-whichthe ladle may be tilted to dischargeits contents and to provide, on the handle, means for con trolling the operation of the hoist so that the operator, without releasingthe handle, may control the hoist to raise or lowerthe ladle holder. 1 I

With the above and other objects in view,-

the invention may be said to comprise the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter describediand particularly. set forth in the appended claims, to gether with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to, one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanye ing drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an overhead carrier embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the outer portion of the handle; and Fig, B'is-a wiring dia gram, showing the motor circuits and con trollingswitches.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

the carrier 1, which is of awell-known type,

is suspended from supportingwheels 2 which travel along a monorail track 3. The carrier 1 is provided with a hoist comprising a winding drum 4 adapted to be driven in either direction through suitable reduction gearing 50 by a reversible electric motor 5. A cable 6 OVERHEAD CARRIER 1925. Serial No. 41,463.

PATENT-OFFICE Y tached a hook 7 to which a suitable load carrying member may be attached. As shown here1n,.a load carrying member ls'a ladle holder having a bail 8 which is hung upon the I hook 7 The ends of the bail 8 are provided with eyes 9 which receivethe trunnions 10 and 11 of a ladle receiving ring 12 which is adapted to-support a ladle 13. The trunnion thereto a handle 14 by means of which theladle supporting ring 12 may be turned to tilt' the ladle and discharge its contents and by means of which the entire apparatus may, be pushed along the overhead track. The handle 14 is secured to the extended trunnion ll'by'means of; a detachable connection 15 and 'has a forked outer end consisting of a crossbar 16. and rearwardly projecting hand grips 17 an d 18 at the ends of the cross-bar.

In; order to enable the operator tocontrol am and down movements of the ladle holder asr-well as the lateral movements while retaining the grip up'on the handle, a pair. of motor controlling switches 19 and 20 are mounted-upon'the hand-grip 18 and the contacts of these switches are connected by suitable conductors 21,-which extend within the 11 is extended and has detachably secured I handle to the central portion of the cross- I bar 16, where they are connected with suitable contacts in a socket 22, whichreceives a plug 23 attached to a flexible cable 24 which The hoist motor is preferably remote controlled through the medium of solenoid openated switches, the details of which are immaterial tomy invention, the solenoid operated switches being preferably enclosed in a box 25 attached to the carrier 1: In Fig. 3,1

have shown conventionally or diagrammatically, one form of electrical control-forjthemotor. As shown in this figure, I utilize four remote control switches 26, 27, 28 and 29, whichare closed bysolenoids 3O which are. adapted to be connected in the-circuits with line conductors 31 by means of the push buttons 19 and 20, on the handle. The wires, in this instance three in number, extend from the push buttons 19 and 20 to the control box 25. The push button 19 controls the switches 26 and 28 and the push button 20 controls the switches-27 and 29: l Vhen the push button 19 is closed, current passes from the line conductors 31 through the armature. and field ofthe motor with the current passing through the armature in a direction such as to cause the motor to be driven in a direction to raise the load carrying member and when the push button is operated to close thesw-itches 27} and 29, the current again passes through the field and armature, but. through the armature in the reverse direction to operate the motor to wind up the hoist cable and raise the load carrying member. A limit switch 32 is preferably employed to automatically stop the motor, as the hook T approaches the bottom of the carrier 1, this however, being an expedient common in the. art. The current for operating the motor. 5. ispreferably supplied through a trolley 33;, which. engages with; a

conductor rail 34 which extends parallel with thetrach 3.

V as.

In the operation of the device, the operator grasps the hand-grips: 17 and 18.- and. presses.-

the push button switch 19 to. cause the ladle to be lifted to a convenient height and then moves the entire. apparatus to the point where. the ladle is'to be discharged by pushing against. the handle. point is: reached, the. ladle be positioned at the proper height for pouring by operat-' ing the proper switch or the. handle without releasing either hand-grip and when the ladle is in proper position, the ladle may be tipped by turning the handle. The handle lt is made; detachable from thetrunniorrll so that ditten; ent sized ladle holders may be substituted. without disturbing the motor controlling d3". vice. The plug 23 and; socket 22 provide a detachable connection between the handle 141- and. cable 24, so that the handle can be quick- 7 1y detached. from the cable or attached therebeing flexibly suspended from the hoisting means, switches onsaid handle for controlling the remote control switches, on, the carrier, whereby the height of the ladle spout with reference to the. mold can be maintainedas desired while. the metal is being poured,

When the discharge.

trackway, hoisting means on the carrier, a

reversible electric motor on the carrier for opera-ting the hoisting means, remote control switches on the carrier for controlling the operation of the motor, a load carrying 11161111: her having a handle, saidload carrying memher being flexibly suspended from the hoistingmeans, switches on the handle for-controlling the remote control switches on the carrier whereby the height of the ladle spout With reference to the mold can be maintained as desi'red while the metal is beingqpoured, flexible conductors. suspended from the carrier connectec to the switches, a plug to iwlu'ch the ends of the condu ctorsare attached, a socket in thehandle adapted to receive the plug, and conductors in the handle for connecting the contacts of the handle switchesiwith said flexible conductors.

Ina device of the character described, a carrier adapted to travelalong an overhead trackway, hoisting means on the carrier, a

reversible electric motor on the carrier for operating; the hoisting means, a molten metal ladle holder flexibly suspended fromthehoistii, i, means, said ladle holder comprising a b l a ladle receiving ring having trunnions journaled in the bail and a handle secured to one of said trunnions by which the entire apparatus may be moved along the trackway and wh chthe ladle may be tipped to' discharge itscontents, and means for controlling said motor tojraise or lower thel'adle trackway, hoisting means on the carrier, a

supporting member flexibly suspended from said" hoisting means, a tiltable ladle holding member carried by the supporting member, a handle attached to the ladle holding member by means. of which the same may be tilted and held in different tilted positions, and electrical means for controlling the hoisting means to raise or lower the ladle supporting member, said controlling means including circuit closing elements on the handle so positioned with respect'to a hand grip portion thereof thattzhe operator without releasing his grip on the. handle may caus'e the. ladle carrying memberto be raised or lowered as the ladle is tilted whereby the spout of the ladle can be ma-i-ntained in any desired positionwith reference to the mold while the metal. is being poured; f .i

5.. In; adevice of the character described,

remote COlll/IOl a carrier adapted to travel along an overhead trackway, hoisting means on the carrier,a supporting member flexibly suspended from said hoisting means, a tiltable ladle holding member carried by the supporting member, said ladle holding member having trunnions j ournaled in said supporting member, a handle attached toone of said trunnions,'said handle having hand grip portions upon op posite sides of the axis-of the trunnion,and electrical means for controlling the hoisting means to cause the same to raise or lower the supporting member'to maintain the spout of the ladle at any desired height with reference to the mold while the metal is being poured, said controlling means including a pair of push button switches, each mounted upon a hand grip portion of the handle. 7

6. A ladle crane comprising a platform, an electric motor carried by the platform,vertically adjustable supporting means carried by the platform and depending therefrom, means connecting the motor to said supporting means for adjusting the same, a foundry ladle having a handle supported by said supporting means, and switch means for the motor carried by said handle.

7. In a supporting and control mechanism for a foundry ladle, a platform, an electric motor carried by the platform, vertically adjustable supporting means carried by the platform, means connecting the motor to said supporting means for adjusting the same, a foundry'ladle having a handle supportedby hoisting means, a ladle supported for univer- Y sal movement'from said hoisting means, a'

handle associated with said ladle and adapted to tilt the same during'the pouring operation,

and control means on said handle for actuating'lsaid motor to thereby raise and lower said In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature;

EARL T. BENNINGTON.

said supporting means, a grip at the end of '7 said handle, switch means for the motor carried by said-handle, and operating means for the switch means located adjacent to said grip. 7

8. In combination, a platform, an electric motor, vertically adjustable sup orting means carried by the platform and epending therefrom, means connecting the motor to said supporting means for adjusting the same, a device having a handle supported by said supporting means, and switching means for the motor carried by said handle;

9. In combination, a platform, an electric motor, vertically adjustable supporting means carried by the platform and depending therefrom, means connecting the motor to said supporting means for adjusting the same, a device having a handle supported by I said supporting means, a grip at the endof the handle, switch means for the motor carried by said handle, and operating means for the switch means located adjacent to said grip.

10. In a device of the character described, a freely movable carrier adapted to travel along an overhead trackway, hoisting means on said carrier, a ladle flexibly supported from said hoisting means, a handle associated with said ladle and adaptedjto tilt the latter during the pouring operation, and control 

